Top 25 Highest-Paid Employees of New Canaan

Jeb Walker, former First Selectman, did not make it into the Top 25. Walker earned $113,375.22 in 2011.

As is custom, a number of employees of the police and fire departments made the list. First Selectman Rob Mallozzi says you can't put a dollar figure on what they do for the town.

"There's always that possibility the police and fire department will encounter something unbelievably difficult and put their life on the line because of that," said Mallozzi. "The truth is, at any given time, they are going to put themselves in harm's way on our behalf. In the end, they get paid because they're doing something that I don't think everyone of us could do or wants to do."

2011 Top-25 Highest-Paid Employees of Town of New Canaan

1. David Abbey Superintendent of  Public Schools $263,492.00 2. Mary Kolek Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools $191,289.00 3. Steve Swerdlick Assist. Superintendent of Public Schools $186,715.00 4. Bryan Luizzi NCHS Principal $173,966.00 5. Darlene Pianka Director of Special Education $165,111.00 6. William Ferri Police Lieutenant $164,028.31 7. Greg Macedo Saxe Middle School Principal $159,973.00 8. Jason Ferraro Police Sergeant $159,373.92 9. Doug Farrenkoph NCHS Teacher & Dir. After School Programs $159,354.35 10. Eugene Tiani Fire Captain $157,327.30 11.  Jill Correnty West School Principal $155,755.00 12. Alexandra Potts East School Principal $154,605.00 (tie) Joanne Rocco South School Principal $154,605.00 14. Joseph Meehan
Director of Finance and Operations
$154,298.00 15. Jay Egan
NCHS Athletic Director
$152,830.46 16. James George
Police Lieutenant
$149.166.12 17. Robert Miller
Director Information & Comm. Technologies
$147,823.00 18. Alan Sneath
Director of Visual & Performing Arts
$147,273.00 19. Ari Rothman
NCHS Assistant Principal $147,173.00 20. Lawrence Sullivan
NCHS Assistant Principal
$147,073.00 21. Mary Ann DeFelice
Special Education Coordinator $143,590.00 22. Carole Pakkala
Special Education Coordinator
$143,490.00 23. Linda Spenard
Saxe Middle School Assistant Principal
$143,390.00 24. Lizette D'Amico
K-8 World Languages/K-12 Coordinator
$143,190.00 25. Michael Baker
Fire Lieutenant
$142,218.04

Note: Alexandra Potts and Joanne Rocco each made $154,605, placing them 12th in wages earned.

Veteran lieutenant William Ferri was the highest-paid employee of the New Canaan Police Department, earning $164,028.31 in gross pay. That number includes salary, overtime, and side jobs.

Source: Town of New Canaan and Board of Education.